Code of Professional Conduct

The students at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine understand that it is a privilege to study and learn the practice of medicine in an educational and clinical setting. At the same time, we recognize the obligation that we, as medical students have to our patients, their health and welfare, to their families and to our future profession. As we enter into a profession in which we will have an extraordinary responsibility for others’ lives and health, we strive to hold ourselves to the highest standards of conduct for the profession. As part of our education and training to become physicians, we will begin to practice the ethic of service that we will uphold for the rest of our professional lives. For these reasons, we have developed and subscribe to this code of professional conduct for the years of our medical education.

Trustworthiness

The medical student will:

be truthful in communication (written and verbal) with others, maintain confidentiality of patient information, admit errors and not knowingly mislead others or promote oneself at the patient’s expense, not misrepresent oneself as a physician.

Professional Demeanor

The medical student will:

be thoughtful and professional in interacting with faculty, staff, peers, patients and their families and other health care team members, strive to maintain his or her composure under pressures of fatigue, professional stress, or personal problems, avoid offensive language, gestures or inappropriate remarks that are racial, gender or culturally insensitive. Maintain a neat, clean appearance and dress in appropriate professional attire when interacting with patients and simulated patient environments.

Responsibility and Sense of Duty

The medical student will:

participate responsibly in patient care to the best of his or her ability and with appropriate supervision, notify the appropriate person(s) if something interferes with his or her ability to perform clinical tasks effectively or be on time for required events and educational activities.

Concern for the Welfare of Patients

The medical student will:

treat patients and families with respect and dignity both in their presence and in discussion with others, discern when supervision or advice is needed and seek these before acting, recognize when his or her ability to function effectively is compromised, and ask for relief or help, not use alcohol or drugs that could compromise patient care, not engage in romantic, sexual or other nonprofessional relationships with a patient, even upon what is perceived as a request of a patient.

Respect for the Rights of Others

The medical student will:

Interact with professional, staff and peer members of the health team in educational and health care settings in a considerate manner and with a spirit of cooperation act with an egalitarian spirit toward all persons encountered in a professional capacity regardless of race, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status. Respect the right of the patient and family to be informed and share in patient care decisions, and respect patients’ modesty and privacy.

Conduct Toward Students

As medical students, we have adopted the preceding standards of professional conduct for ourselves. In addition, we expect to be treated with respect as participants on the health care team.

A medical student cannot be compelled to perform procedures or examinations which he or she feels to be detrimental or unethical, should be challenged to learn, but should not be abused or humiliated in front of patients, peers or other health team members may not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race or religion.

If resident or attending physicians feel a student does not have adequate medical or clinical knowledge or skills, they have the responsibility to inform and instruct that student so he or she can improve his or her performance.

Violations of this code may result in implementation of sanctions listed in Code of Student Conduct Article 4 section C.